ailed at the palace. The Bishop, who had never yet been able to be
masterful over him, had desired in a mild way to become masterful. He had
liked the opportunity of writing that affectionate letter. That reference
to the "metropolitan press" had slipt from him unawares; and then, when
badgered for his authority, when driven to give an instance from the
London newspapers, he had sent the objectionable periodical. He had, in
point of fact, made a mistake;--a stupid, foolish mistake, into which a
really well-bred man would hardly have fallen. "Ought I to take advantage
of it?" said the Doctor to himself when he had wandered for an hour or
more alone through the wood. He certainly did not wish to be crushed
himself. Ought he to be anxious to crush the Bishop because of this
error?

"As for the paper," he said to himself, walking quicker as his mind turned
to this side of the subject,--"as for the paper itself, it is beneath my
notice. What is it to me what such a publication, or even the readers of
it, may think of me? As for damages, I would rather starve than soil my
hands with their money. Though it should succeed in ruining me, I could
not accept redress in that shape." And thus having thought the matter
fully over, he returned home, still wrathful, but with mitigated wrath.

A Saturday was fixed on which he should again go up to London to see the
lawyer. He was obliged now to be particular about his days, as, in the
absence of Mr. Peacocke, the school required his time. Saturday was a
half-holiday, and on that day he could be absent on condition of remitting
the classical lessons in the morning. As he thought of it all he began to
be almost tired of Mr. Peacocke. Nevertheless, on the Saturday morning,
before he started, he called on Mrs. Peacocke,--in company with his
wife,--and treated her with all his usual cordial kindness. "Mrs.
Wortle," he said, "is going up to town with me; but we shall be home
to-night, and we will see you on Monday if not to-morrow." Mrs. Wortle was
going with him, not with the view of being present at his interview with
the lawyer, which she knew would not be allowed, but on the pretext of
shopping. Her real reason for making the request to be taken up to town
was, that she might use the last moment possible in mitigating her
husband's wrath against the Bishop.

"I have seen one of the proprietors and the editor," said the lawyer, "and
they are quite willing to apologise.